Gwynedd Helps To Turn Houses Into Homes

Empty houses across Gwynedd are being renovated to provide homes for the county’s residents thanks to a scheme administered by Gwynedd Council’s Empty Homes Team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since it was established in Gwynedd in 2012, the Welsh Government-backed ‘Houses into Homes’ scheme has helped to bring back 61 empty properties into the housing market, which has provided homes to 134 individuals or families across the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme is continuing to offer interest-free loans of up to £25,000 per unit to assist owners of empty houses in renovating or converting their properties to either let or to sell on. Over the past four years, over £1.3 million worth of loans have been distributed across the county to help tackle the ongoing problem of empty homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ioan Thomas, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With over 1,300 empty properties across the county, we are determined to work with property owners to bring as many of these houses back into use so that we can provide suitable homes for Gwynedd residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Houses into Homes scheme has proven successful in Gwynedd over recent years, and the Council’s empty homes team are continuing to work with a number of property owners to bring more houses back into use. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Quite simply, this initiative is a win-win for all concerned – it provides homes for people who need them, it helps to improve the local environment by improving and bringing derelict properties back into use, as well as offering a source of income for property owners to deliver welcome improvements to the housing stock. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d urge anyone who would like more information or want to discuss their application to contact the Council’s Empty Homes Team.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Eligible properties must have been empty for six months or more, and the loan can only be used to help renovate the property for either residential letting or sale purposes. The repayment time varies from two to three years, depending on the purpose of the loan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​